Fatal Truck Crash on Interstate 270 Bridge

St. Louis Today reported on a tragic truck accident on a bridge in Missouri that ended in a fiery blaze and took the life of one car driver.

The accident occurred last Wednesday morning on the Chain of Rocks Bridge on Interstate 270. A 46-year old man’s car became disabled on the bridge early in the morning on his way to work. It was about 4:30 a.m. He placed a call to emergency dispatchers to his explain his situation and seek help. While waiting for emergency crews to arrive, the man attempted to move his disabled car out of the way of traffic so that it did not pose a threat to other motorists.

While he was moving the car, a semi-truck began traveling onto the bridge. The truck driver swerved to avoid hitting the disabled vehicle but in doing so he hit the driver who was outside of the car at the time. The semi then went out of control, hit a median, and burst into flames. The victim died at the scene, with his body burned virtually beyond recognition.

It was later discovered that emergency crews were late to arrive to the scene, because the dispatcher who took the call mistakenly sent crews to Interstate 70, instead of 270. Had they arrived before the accident, there is a good chance that the additional lights and police presence would have provided proper notice to other traffic to help avoid the accident.
Our Chicago truck crash lawyers at Levin & Perconti send sincere condolences to all those affected by this tragedy. These accidents occur with too much frequency and have a variety of causes. It may never be clear whether a correct dispatch would have prevented the accident. But, in many cases it is imperative that an investigation be conducted so that all involved can understand specifically what happened, and, if necessary, steps that can be taken to prevent future accidents. If you or someone you know has been caught in a similar situation, please contact our truck crash lawyers to seek advice and counsel.

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